Polaris Aero, LLC is an aviation consulting firm specializing in operational risk analysis. Our goal is to improve flying safety by providing pilots with superior information.
The problem: 70-80% of all aviation accidents are a result of human error (Shappell and Wiegmann).
Pilots make poor decisions because they lack important information. This information is very difficult to find: it is spread out over hundreds of different publications and websites. Much of it changes often (Airport/Facility Directory, Terminal Procedures), and new information is constantly being added (Safety Alerts for Operators). For example, the FAA has over 50 publications that discuss icing!
Even if a pilot reads the correct information, there is no guarantee he/she will remember it. The reason is that the amount of information we retain decreases over time (this was demonstrated empirically by Wayne Wicklegren in 1974). Cognitive limitations are not specific to pilots; they affect everyone. The problem for pilots is that their margin for error is small. Forgetting one simple piece of information can have catastrophic consequences.
Despite these problems, the FAA expects the pilot to know everything: “Each pilot in command shall, before beginning a flight, become familiar with all available information concerning that flight” (FAR 91.103). In reality, this is an almost impossible task, especially in a time-constrained environment. James Reason, author of Human Error, has stated that time pressures increase the chance of human error by eleven-fold!
We believe that if pilots have the right information, they will make the right decisions. As the quality of information improves, so does a pilot’s decision-making. To be effective, this information must be relevant and accessible.
Our Solution:
We consolidate information into one location and highlight the publication references that are most applicable to a pilot’s flight. This reduces the time it takes to find the appropriate publications and allows the pilot to focus on the most relevant risk factors. We do not replace “original” publications, we simply facilitate the flight planning process.
Benefits:
- Saves Time - we automate a very time consuming process
- Saves Money - it is like having a 24/7 safety staff at a fraction of the cost
- Facilitates compliance - we make it easier to find the appropriate regulations and/or procedures
- Improves Safety - we give pilots the information they need to make smart decisions
How do we do it?
With our innovative new software:
